A visit to the farm

Today we headed out to Bever Park to check out the farm. Some of the animals just came back from their winter lodging this weekend and were ready to show off! Alena liked the chickens best out of all of the animals. When the prairie dogs are back she will probably like them--like a bunch of Leroys who live underground! We also visited the duck pond. There are a lot of pretty new ducks swimming around. It was so much to take in that Alena had to take a nap on the way home.

Checking out the goats and donkey

Chickens!

Those are some cool ducks! (For those of you who haven't seen her in person for awhile, she actually is growing hair; it just doesn't look like it in this picture.)

Rub a dub

Alena had her 6 month check-up yesterday. A clean bill of health! She weighed in at 14 lbs, 8 oz. She had to get 3 more shots which put her in a bad mood for the rest of the day. Fortunately, she is starting to feel better. Hopefully she wakes up happy, ready to spend a fun-filled day with Dad!

Alena's favorite room in the house is the bathroom. Here she is hanging out in her bathtub. Why is she fully clothed? I didn't want her feet to get wet (first person to get that movie reference wins.) Bonus question: What did Alena eat for lunch today? You will find your hint on the baby's clothes.

Playing with Leroy

Alena sticks everything in her mouth. One of her favorite things to suck on is Dad's hair. She licks it until there is drool dripping off of his head. She also likes petting dogs and feeling their soft fur. Is there any way that she can combine her two favorite things?

Look, it's Leroy!

His fur is so soft...

...good enough to eat!

Learning new tricks

Alena loves to watch people drink from a cup. She wanted to give it a try herself. She likes to hold the glass and lick it. When she gets water in her mouth, she just lets it flow back out down her shirt.

Grandma Dee shows proper cup-drinking technique.

Grandpa Ed teaching Alena how to slide down the bannister (just like Miss Hannigan!)

Shades

It was Alena's six month birthday on Saturday. Anyone who knows Mom knows that a half-birthday is cause for celebration, including cake! We went to the mall and couldn't resist these cool shades.

Joe Cool

Good thing Alena had sunglasses to protect her from the glare off of her candle! No, she didn't eat any of the cake, but we sure enjoyed it!

Alena's first Easter

Alena had a fun time for her first Easter. She started out the festivities on Saturday by dyeing eggs with Grandma Dee and Grandpa Ed. She got an Easter basket with baby paper, her new favorite thing! Sunday morning the Easter Bunny struck again! A book about bunnies and some new spring outfits were waiting downstairs. But Easter wasn't over yet! The whole Horak family made it to Mimi's for an Easter feast (twelve people and 4 desserts.) There was also an egg hunt. Afterward we went to Grandma Diane and Grandpa Steve's house for another egg hunt (Alena didn't feel up to looking for eggs, so she stayed inside and watched the Masters with Grandpa while Mom and Dad did all of the work.) That Easter Bunny sure was busy this year! It did not take much convincing to get Alena to bed after such a busy day!

The Easter Bunny came!

Alena in her Easter dress and bonnet.

The happy family!

Queen teddy bear

When Alena is wearing this sleeper she likes to be referred to as "Queen Teddy Bear." Here she is on her throne, surrounded by her loyal subjects. Doesn't she look stately!

Alena eating

Dessert!

Eating sweet potatoes

The sweet potatoes were a success! Alena ate half of the jar. Did she really like the food, or did she just want to chew on the spoon? Thank you to all who voted in this very important poll.

You saw it--she was wearing a bib. How did she get her outfit so dirty?

The results are in!

Which food will Alena eat next? Sweet potatoes is the hands down winner! Green beans received no support and there was one write-in for corn. Alena's excitement is mounting!

Alena helps Dad do the laundry (as she created the majority of the dirty laundry, it is only fair!) But then again, how much help does it look like she was lending?

So many choices!

Alena has been trying new food this week. So far she has had butternut squash and peaches (the squash was fine, but the peaches were well received.) Saturday, she will be tasting a new vegetable or fruit. Here is your chance: which food should Alena eat next? Cast your vote on the right side of the screen. The winning food will be eaten!

Aunt Julie's visit

Alena had a fun time with Aunt Julianne, who was visiting from Denver this week. We broke out some new toys to play with, including Learning Town and some big soft blocks. We went for a walk outside, even though the temperature was only in the 30s. But Alena started out the day in a drawer...

Alena hit the scales at 14 pounds, 3 oz.

Alena and Aunt Julie play with the boppy.

Alena had to wake up from a nap to say goodbye to Aunt Julie, so she wasn't willing to give a smile. Or maybe she was sad to see her go!

Hanging out around the house

Alena sitting in her Bumbo and playing with a burp cloth

Reading a book from the library

Playing with a beach ball in the baby aquarium

The weekend in review

After starting the weekend with a bang (eating from a spoon), Alena had a lot more fun things to do. Her friend Maren came over Saturday night to play. Alena learned a lot from her as she is 11 months old. Then, cousin Tillie was baptised on Sunday. There were many people to meet! Alena got so tired that she had to sleep through the brunch following the baptism. Fortunately, she was awake and ready to play when Grandpa Ed and Aunt Kristina came over for a visit. The weather was nice so it was the perfect day for a walk. Aunt Kristina even pushed the stroller.

Alena tried on her new dress to wear to church. Good thing she tried it on early so we could work out the kinks of dressing her--Dad put her bloomers on her head as a hat!

Maren was very good at sharing toys.

Alena remembered her cousin Emily. Here they are picking out a ribbon to weave for a display at church.

Grandpa and Alena had a good time playing.

Alena eats from a spoon

Today was Alena's first time eating food. On the menu was rice cereal, served up with a green spoon. Alena did a good job of swallowing most of her meal and she seemed to have fun doing it. She has been watching people eat for a long time now, and it was about time she got to see what all of the fuss was about! She was insistent on holding the spoon herself, which slowed the process significantly.

Alena is 5 months old today!

Grandma Diane thought it would be fun to dig out Dad's old hats that he wore as a baby for Alena. She does look stunning in hats. This hat makes her look a little like a baby jockey. Grandma, can I have a pony?

Thanks for sharing your hat with me, Dad!

Here is Grandma Diane's Ultrasaucer. It is fun to play in for Alena, plus it really amuses Mom because it is Medieval themed. Alena's favorite toy on it is the king and queen that play music and flash lights. Mom's favorite toy is the spinning rotisserie pig. Very authentic.

Sitting

Alena has been practicing sitting by herself. She is getting better at it, but sometimes still needs a hand.

Spitting

To all of you guys out in Denver, we had a 70 degree day yesterday! Alena and Mom spent a lot of time outside. We went for a walk in the morning, and then in the afternoon Alena sat in her bouncer chair and watched Mom clean out the flowerbed. Later, we laid on a blanket and looked at the sky. A bunny rabbit hopped out from behind the shed but Alena scared it away before we could catch it and make it our pet (everyone knows how much she loves bunnies!)

Alena has really stepped it up a notch with her spitting and razzing. Here is a small clip of her doing just that. You may want to step back from the screen a little.

Big week

It was a big week for Alena. She started out Monday with her 4 month check-up. She weighed 13 lbs, 11 oz and her head circumference was only in the 10th percentile. We lucked out that she got Mom's small head instead of Dad's giant one. Dad teases that the next baby will have his head. Mom shudders to think. Dad had been sick all week and Friday we found out he had strep throat. He is starting to feel a little better, though his voice is out. He has been speaking to Alena with clicks. She doesn't seem to notice the difference. And the biggest news of the week is that Aunt Angela and Uncle Tyler had their baby on Saturday. Against all odds they had a boy! His name is Finn and he is very handsome. Lily is excited to be a big sister! Alena was happy to hear that she had a new cousin, although sad that she won't be able to meet him for a couple of months.

Alena has been up to a lot of new tricks over the past few days. She has started smiling more at Mom and Dad and also has been talking more. She notices everything that is going on around her. She really enjoys watching her parents do laundry. One of her favorite games is to look into the mirror with Mom and watch as Mom sticks out her tongue and makes funny sounds and faces. She is getting good and grabbing things--pretty much whatever she can reach. Sometimes it is a toy, sometimes a necklace, and her favorite, the glasses off your face. After she gets the glasses she sticks them in her mouth. She does not let go easily! But the biggest news is that her hair is coming in. It is not noticeable in pictures, but it really is true! She was thinking it should be long enough to donate to Locks of Love by her first birthday (that might be a bit of an exaggeration.)Baby cousin Finn

Alena love to read and hug her books

Baby track suit

Sticking out her tongue at Dad

Sick Dad, aka Sith Lord in a kitty cat cloak